D-Day 44 Challenge | 44-Mile Run

Example timetable

Thursday

• 06:00 | Registration at London, Victoria
• 06:30 | Coach departs London for crossing to France
• 18:00 | Arrival and check-in at accommodation
• 19:00 | Dinner and event briefing

Friday

• 05:45 | 44-mile event starts
• 07:45 | 22-mile walk starts
• 09:30 | 22-mile run starts
• 18:00 | Event finishes

Saturday

• 08:00 | Breakfast
• 09:00 | Coach departs for sight-seeing day, led by historian
• 19:00 | Group dinner at campsite

Sunday

• 07:00 | Breakfast and check out
• 07:30 | Depart
• 18:30 | Estimated arrival at London Victoria

Route highlights

• 44-mile run start at Pointe du Hoc
• Run along cliff tops overlooking Omaha Beach
• Continue along the coastline to Gold Beach
• Through open countryside and crop fields before a descent towards Arromanches
• 22-mile participants join
• The route continues across Juno and Sword beaches at sea level (views of the remains of the Mulberry Harbours)
• The final section heads inland towards Ouistreham, along the Orne Canal to the finish at Pegasus Bridge.

Cut offs

• 44 miles | 12 hours

Event HQ

Pointe du Hoc
Grandcamp-Maisy
France

Pointe du Hoc start

The route starts at the Pointe du Hoc.

This is where Colonel Rudder led an elite group of 200 rangers up the chalk cliffs using ropes and ladders. After dispatching the German sentries at the top of the cliff, their mission was to find and destroy large battery guns. This action was crucial as these large guns were capable of firing shells several miles out to sea and would therefore have claimed the lives of many men, who would be arriving at Utah beach the following morning. After destroying the guns, but alerting a large German infantry force, Colonel Rudder and his men fought bravely with their backs to the sea.

Included

• Return transport from London
• 3 nights' accommodation in comfortable static cabins
• All meals and break stops
• Glass of fizz at the finish
• Medical and event support
• Combat Stress technical t-shirt
• D-Day 44 Challenge medal
• Sightseeing day led by a historian

The D-Day 44 mile ultra was outstanding. I thoroughly enjoyed both the event and the historical tour, made lifelong friends and would highly recommend taking part for an unforgettable adventure. Paul D

A brilliant experience from start to finish. The team ensured everything ran smoothly, with excellent support, well stocked aid stations and a strong focus on safety throughout. Nick W

Loved every moment of this event. The atmosphere was great! Nathan D

Running along the landing beaches on the anniversary of D-Day was a truly special and memorable experience. The whole trip was well organised and expertly managed throughout. Alex B

An incredibly moving and well organised event with a fantastic group of participants. An honour to take part and complete it. Stuart L

An excellent and very well organised event with amazing staff. Taking part on D-Day made it an especially moving experience. Ian T

Loved every moment of this event. The atmosphere was great! Andrea P

Absolutely fantastic event with seamless organisation. Gina J

Experience of a lifetime. A unique and well supported event that brings together people from all walks of life for a truly memorable challenge. Magnus L

A challenging but rewarding event with great support throughout. Improvements could be made to route markings and water stations, but overall an outstanding experience. Dean S

The amazing and friendly support staff made this event. A truly enjoyable experience. Mark T

A memorable challenge with excellent support, even when unexpected changes impacted the route. The adaptability of the team made it even more special. Andy B

Really good event with great staff and excellent accommodation. A humbling experience with a strong sense of camaraderie throughout. Sara J

Reviews thanks to RaceCheck

Combat Stress

The UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health.

Combat Stress believes military trauma shouldn’t destroy the lives of veterans and their families.

When some military personnel leave service, their experiences cannot easily be left behind. Without treatment, psychological trauma can eventually tear lives apart.

With over 100 years of experience caring for veterans, the charity's role today is to support those facing some of the most complex challenges arising from military service, including PTSD. Through clinical research, they work closely with veterans to better understand trauma recovery and continually develop cutting-edge mental health expertise.

They deliver life-changing treatment by bringing together professionals with specialist expertise to meet individual needs; a service that thousands depend on. No one else provides this.

At a time that can feel isolating and daunting, they call for support to help treat and reach more veterans. By tackling the past, veterans can take on the future.

Your support can be life-changing.

While a lot has changed over the last 100 years, one thing remains the same: how vital their support is to the veteran community. It’s only thanks to generous support from challenge fundraisers that they’re able to provide specialist treatment to veterans. They need help to meet the demand for their services. With the funds available to today, they can only help some of those who need it. 

By taking part in the D-Day 44 Challenge, your fundraising efforts will make a huge difference to the lives of the former servicemen and women who need support.

The impact of your fundraising

• £19

  could provide art materials for a veteran to create artwork at home as part of their treatment, offering a way to express emotions and process their trauma.

• £24

  could pay for a veteran to attend a Peer Support group meeting where they can receive support and understanding from others who've walked a similar path.

• £57

  could fund a veteran's call to the Helpline so they can start receiving life-changing treatment.

• £75

  could give a veteran's family access to the Family Support Service, helping them understand mental health symptoms, the treatment their loved one is receiving from us, and how they can best support their recovery.

• £89

  could fund a session with an occupational therapist, helping a veteran regain the ability to participate in meaningful activities and improve their quality of life.

• £145

  could pay for a veteran to have an appointment with a psychological therapist, helping them process and make sense of their trauma to support their recovery.

• £173

  could fund a specialist psychological assessment for a veteran experiencing particularly complex mental health difficulties.

Participants must be 18 years or older. All participants aged 65 years or over at the time of travel, and participants of any age who have a medical condition, must get a GP to sign a medical declaration in order to participate in the D-Day 44 Challenge. 

Entry fees